The Everest 2018: Barrier draw lights up the Opera House sails
THE $13 million Everest barrier draw has lit up the sails of the Sydney Opera House. The 12 horses and their colours were projected onto the sails just before 7.40pm as protesters shone torch lights in a failed attempt to disrupt the event.
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THE plan to promote The Everest to the world has gone off in spectacular fashion despite an embarrassing attempt by torch and balloon wielding protesters to interrupt the show.
About 1000 hard-core protesters failed in their attempt to wreak havoc on the barrier draw light show that was beamed onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House.
White strobe lights from demonstrators dotted the sails before the barrier draw began but it failed to derail the unique promotion of the world’s richest turf race.
Earlier this week Prime Minister Scott Morrison backed the state government and Racing NSW over The Everest promotion, declaring it “common sense” to use “the biggest billboard Sydney has”.
As wowsers bemoaned the use of the Opera House to promote The Everest, Mr Morrison, who ran Tourism Australia before entering Parliament, launched a forceful defence of the light show, pointing to jobs and money injected into the state by the $13 million racing spectacular.
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But last night the light-phobic loonies used their phones and handheld torches tied to selfie sticks in a vain attempt to drown out the light show.
Some even used lasers to project green dots over the barrier draw and let go a bunch of helium balloons.
But media reports that many of the 280,000 who had signed a petition against the projection would turn up to protest fell flat in the forecourt outside the Opera House.
Police had beefed up their presence and deployed the riot squad to the area amid concerns about the demonstrators.
There were water police using boats to patrol the perimeter of the Opera House while barricades were installed around the Overseas Passenger Terminal where projectors are located.
Officers were seen stopping a man from bringing floodlights into the forecourt last night.
The rowdy rabble seemed to convey some mixed messages — not always about the Everest or its light show.
Some were angry about gambling, others focused on Alan Jones and his perceived intervention on the issue and some directed their ire at Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Racing NSW concerns over security did force the official barrier draw — which was supposed to be held live during the light show — earlier in the day.
As a result betting on The Everest was suspended at midday until the results of the draw were beamed onto the sails of Sydney Opera House last night.
“Racing NSW made the decision to conduct the draw prior to the event to circumvent any security risks that may exist,” a statement said.
The decision to cancel the live barrier draw came hours after broadcaster Jones publicly said sorry for his harsh on-air treatment of Opera House chief executive Louise Herron.
Last Friday he had called for her to be sacked after she ruled out allowing words or branding highlighting The Everest race to be projected onto the Opera House because “it’s not a billboard”.
He apologised saying he regretted his choice of words after hearing their impact “on some people including her”.
On Monday night comedians The Chaser beamed Mr Jones’ mobile number onto the sails of the Opera House.
Sports Minister Stuart Ayres yesterday said the drama around the event was “bit hysterical”.
“I think it’s been a little bit hysterical to be honest with you. I think that this is a good opportunity for NSW and Sydney to come together,” he said.
“We should be very, very proud of fantastic events whether they are our cultural events at the Sydney Opera House or the Everest at Royal Randwick or the NRL grand final … these are all opportunities where people around NSW can come together and celebrate what I think is the best state in the country and the best city on earth.”